FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the DeSales Physician Assistant Program

DeSales University graduates are highly sought after. The average student receives two job offers during the clinical year and, on average, 100% of our graduates are employed as physician assistants within four months of graduating. Additionally, approximately 50% of students have already obtained jobs by graduation.
We gladly help place our graduates in jobs and maintain a DeSales-only job list.

Limited graduate housing is available on campus. Accepted students may complete an online housing application beginning in the spring term. Housing is assigned based on a lottery system. For more information inquire with the Office of Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@desales.edu.

Apply directly through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) by going to www.caspaonline.org. Once DeSales receives your CASPA application, we will send you a confirmation letter indicating the next steps.

We benchmark our students' academic performance against all other programs in the nation based upon their performance on national standardized examinations. We administer the national standardized examination known within our profession as PACKRAT (Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Ratings Assessment Tool) for both our first year and second year students where our students are compared against students from across the nation. Students are provided their scores in order to guide their studying.

The Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) is another means by which the Program can benchmark our success. Our board results have consistently been among the highest in the nation.

Despite our high academic standards, DeSales PA students have a very low rate of attrition due to academic or disciplinary dismissals. Since our program began, we have had a 4% attrition rate for students due to academic or professional reasons.

No, if you have already taken the course, you do not need to repeat the course with the lab component. But, if you are enrolling in a science course, it is highly recommended that you take one with a lab. Your application and performance in the course will be strengthened by taking an accompanying laboratory experience.

Since we believe that verbal and written communication is a vital part of taking care of patients, we require the TOEFL test for any applicant that has completed their undergraduate degree outside of the United States. DeSales recommends a minimum of 100 on the internet-based test.
Note: we are currently not accepting the IELTS in place of the TOEFL.

Applicants must complete the minimum required number of patient care hours (500) before matriculation into the program (late August each year). We recommend having completed at least 50% of the minimum required hours by the time you submit your application.

The most useful health care hours relate to direct patient contact, i.e., EMT, surgical technician, dietitian, campus health center volunteer, Certified Nursing Assistant, etc. -- paid or volunteer. Usually, the more diverse the experience, the better for incoming students. Shadowing of clinically active physician assistants is encouraged in order for you to gain an understanding of their role. Hours should be documented by a supervisor.

No, pre-requisites must be completed before matriculation (late August each year). If you are missing courses, please make a plan as to how you will complete the courses prior to matriculation in August. If you are accepted into the Program, you will be given a "conditional" letter of acceptance, requiring successful completion of those required courses prior to matriculation.

In order for us to perform a thorough and fair review of your application, we encourage you not to submit your application if you have yet to complete more than three pre-requisite courses.

DeSales University's Physician Assistant Program is ranked #25 by U.S. News & World Report in 2011. The basis for these rankings comes largely from peer evaluations completed by other graduate level Physician Assistant Programs. There is currently no ranking system available based on objective data or a combination of objective and subjective data. DeSales recommends greater exploration and research into finding a program that best meets each student's needs beyond any ranking system.

All transcripts, standardized test scores, hours completed, recommendation letters and personal statement must be sent directly to CASPA. However, after your application has been verified by CASPA and DeSales has confirmed receipt with you via email, any updates to your application may be sent directly to The Office of Graduate Admissions at the address below.

Our PA Program prepares you for your role as a practicing physician assistant. The curriculum is unique in that clinical medicine, pathophysiology and pharmacology are fully integrated so that students learn the entire spectrum of disease processes rather than learning about diseases in different classes at different times.

Students in the first (didactic) year also have the ability to interact with patients immediately upon matriculation through our "friday morning rotations". Each Friday, students attend a rotation site for four hours to enhance the didactic instruction that they are learning in the classroom. This broadens the clinical experiences that our students obtain and reinforces their desire to become PA's.

DeSales University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1, along with three full-time administrative staff members. We have five full-time faculty who are dedicated to the clinical year. In fact, we visit each student during every mandatory rotation (9 times per year), plus the students return to campus after every 5-week rotation for "Senior Day".

DeSales University's faculty are experienced clinicians. In fact, most of the faculty continue to practice one day per week in order to maintain their clinical skills. We have more than 100 years of clinical experience among our 13 full-time faculty members.

Physician Assistant students: to receive full consideration for the next academic year, your CASPA application must be verified by CASPA no later than December 1.